Verified on 04/22/2022 by Florine Dergelet, Editor
Taking antidepressants would not significantly improve the general well-being of patients with depressive disorders. This is the finding of a new study conducted by researchers at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.
Researchers examine the effect of antidepressant use on the quality of life of patients with depression
Although many studies have already demonstrated the effectiveness of antidepressants once morest depressive disorders, the effect of these drugs on the general well-being of patients who take them remains controversial. Researchers from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia have just demonstrated that the use of antidepressants is not associated with a better “quality of life”.
To reach this finding, the researchers analyzed data from 17.5 million American adults who were diagnosed with a depressive disorder each year during the period 2005-2016. All of these patients were divided into two groups: more than half of the patients (57.6%) were prescribed antidepressants and the rest of the group received no medication. Both groups of patients were then followed for two years and were examined through several physical and mental components.
Antidepressants did not lead to better general well-being
According to the study results published on April 20, 2022 in the journal Plos One, a slight improvement in mental health was observed in both groups following the two years of treatment and follow-up. While antidepressants seem to improve mood at the start of treatment, the effects have not been felt over the longer term. Furthermore, patients on antidepressants did not demonstrate better general well-being than those who did not.
In their conclusions, the researchers state that “the ultimate goal of using antidepressants or psychotherapy is to improve important patient outcomes, such as HRQOL (health-related quality of life). The actual effect of antidepressant use does not continue to improve patients’ HRQoL over time, as the change in HRQoL was comparable to that of patients who did not use any antidepressant medication.
In this context, the scientists call for future studies to focus instead on “ the long-term impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, such as behavior therapy, psychotherapy, social support sessions, education, or combined interventions, on these patients ».
